FLATS AS SLUMS OF FUTURE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23411, 19 August 1941, Page 3

FLATS AS SLUMS OF FUTURE

CITY COUNCILLOR’S * CLAIM

BUILDING APPLICATION

WITHHELD

“Some flats in the city are more like Army hutments than flats,” said Cr. H. E. Denton, when the Christchurch City Council last evening was discussing an application for the erection' of a block of flats in Worcester street. Cr. Denton’s view that some of the flats erected in the city could easily become the slums of Christchurch in the future was supported by the chairman of the town planning committee of the council (Cr. W. P. Glue). The application was for flats to be built in Worcester street, east of Madras street, in a residential area. The town planning committee reported that the building planned was two-storeyed of brick, with five flats on each floor. A double bed was shown in a specimen flat, and it was assumed that each flat was meant- to accommodate two persons. Under the town planning scheme, the number of units would nave to be reduced to eight, bringing the number of people housed to 16. The report said that though a permit could not be granted for more than eight units, the committee recommended that the permit be withheld entirely, under the clause in the scheme dealing with amenities. Cr. Denton said that the. council ought to be careful over its policy with flats. If one went just over Wilson’s road bridge, one would think a storeroom had been erected, instead of flats. Flats of the sort seen in some parts of the city were going to be slums in 20 years. They could be nothing else. He thought that every councillor would be advised to have a look at the plans being discussed. “What do you suggest?” asked Cr. F. S: Wilding, Cr. Denton: “We should get a list of stronger rules covering flats. Here they want to build 10 flats. We are forced to give them eight, but I think four or jive is the'greatest number we should give them, if we have any regard for the beauty of the city. They are just like Army barracks.” “Bnilt By Old Council”

“Without wishing to hold a postmortem on any flats now up, I would like to mention to Cr. Denton that the flats he talks of were built by the old council. But this council is keeping a very close eye on the position,” said Cr. Glue. He felt that eight flats on the section were too many: that six were all that should be there. But the town planning scheme for the city provided for eight flats on such a site. There was no question that some of the flats being put up would provide slums of the future. Cr. G. Manning suggested that the councillors would prefer to see the section and the council, approving of the recommendation of the committee on the application, agreed to that suggestion. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews') said that the decision did not prevent altogether the plan to build the flats, as the proposal could be amended to accord with the views of the council.